BXF/G/FQWLE& 


r  r  i 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


o. 


SHORT-HAND 
EXECUTION. 

AITLICA1JLE   TO   ANY   SYSTEM  OF 

STENOGRAPHY 

FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  MULTIPLYING  SPEED  AND 
ENHANCING  LEGIBILITY. 


BT 

F.  G.  FOWLER. 


(ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED.) 


BRIDGEPORT,  CONN.,  U.S.A. 

1881. 


COPYRIGHT. 

1880, 
BY  F.  G.  FOWLER. 


PREFACE. 


THE  value  of  a  work  is  not  necessarily  pro- 
portioned to  the  number  of  its  pages.  On  the 
contrary,  if  a  given  amount  of  information  is 
embraced  in  ten  pages,  it  is  more  easily  obtained 
than  when  distributed  through  one  hundred. 
With  this  view,  the  author  has  labored  assiduously, 
in  the  preparation  of  this  work,  to  discard  every- 
thing extraneous,  and  give,  in  as  concise  a  form 
as  possible,  the  essential  matter,  which  might 
more  easily  have  been  extended  through  many 
pages.  The  important  consideration  with  the 
stenographer  is,  with  a  given  degree  of  legibility, 
how  much  speed  can  be  realized.  And  any 
abridgment  that  does  not  conflict  with  that  end 
should  add  rather  than  detract  from  the  value  of 
a  work. 

Of  the  various  expedients  set  forth,  it  is  hardly 
to  be  expected  that  any  one  writer  will  make  use 
of  them  all.  But  any  part  can  be  selected  that 
the  stenographer  chooses  to  apply,  as  they  are  all 
separate  and  distinct  from  each  other. 

No  attempt  is  made  to  furnish  elementary  in- 


PREFACE. 


struetion  in  short-hand  suitable  for  beginners. 
That  can  be  obtained  in  text-books  especially 
devoted  to  its  exposition.  This  work  is  intended 
for  the  more  advanced  students  of  the  art,  en- 
abling them  to  greatly  augment  their  speed  of 
Avriting,  and  in  some  cases  to  double  and  treble  it, 
and  with  a  given  speed  to  attain  a  higher  degree 
of  legibility. 

Its  principles  can  be  applied,  practically,  by 
writers  of  any  system  of  short-hand,  without  the 
necessity  of  obtaining  new  apparatus  or  materials, 
or  resorting  to  any  modification  or  change  in  their 
system  of  writing.  It  can  be  made  a  superstruct- 
ure to  whatever  of  short-hand  may  have  been 
acquired.  The  writer  is  thus  enabled  to  follow 
out  his  own  inclinations  in  choosing  a  system  of 
short-hand,  and  need  not  abandon  any  that  may 
have  been  learned,  as  it  can  be  rendered  available. 

It  is  not  intended  to  extol  the  merits  of  any 
system  of  short-hand,  or  detract  from  the  excel- 
lences of  any  ;  but  the  aim  has  been  to  add  to  the 
scope  and  usefulness  of  all,  to  remedy  their  de- 
ficiencies and  render  them  so  complete  as  to  be 
beyond  criticism. 

At  the  same  time  it  is  believed  that  the  cause  of 
short-hand  will  be  best  subserved,  not  by  over- 
estimating its  capabilities  and  ignoring  its  defects, 
but  by  a  candid  consideration  of  the  facts  just  as 
they  exist. 


INTRODUCTION. 


WHEN  the  human  race  had  so  far  advanced 
in  civilization  that  the  art  of  writing  became 
known,  the  need  of  a  system  susceptible  of 
recording  language  with  a  facility  equal  to  that 
with  which  it  could  be  uttered  by  the  vocal 
organs  at  once  became  apparent.  Accordingly, 
systems  have  been  devised,  from  time  to  time, 
for  the  purpose  of  accomplishing  this  very  de- 
sirable result,  which  have  been  termed  short- 
hand. The  earlier  of  these  were  to  a  great 
extent  arbitrary,  and  imperfect  in  the  method 
of  representing  language  ;  while  the  most  ap- 
proved of  the  present  day,  based  on  the  pho- 
netic principle,  is  a  great  improvement  upon  its 
predecessors.  In  the  elimination  of  its  prin- 
ciples there  has  been  such  a  wise  adaptation 
of  means  to  ends,  and  in  the  working  up  of  its 
details,  such  an  ingenious  combination  of  ex- 
pedients, that  a  great  economy  of  space,  with 
a  degree  of  speed  and  legibility,  are  attained. 
In  its  development,  able  minds  have  been  em- 
ployed, and  of  those  Avho  have  been  zealous 
and  untiring  in  their  endeavors,  not  only  to 


INTRODUCTION. 


perfect,  but  to  disseminate  their  favorite  art. 
For  this  service,  society  stands  to  them  indebted  ; 
for  while  they  have  not  been  entirely  successful, 
they  have  done  a  good  work  and  approximated 
to  the  desired  end.  The  result  of  their  labors 
answers  to  much  that  is  required  of  a  system 
of  short- hand. 

To  be  all  that  is  desired,  short-hand  should 
be  such  that  persons  of  average  capacities  can 
acquire  it  in  a  reasonable  length  of  time,  and 
without  excessive  physical  exertion  write,  in 
legible  characters,  all  audible  utterances  that 
are  in  vogue  in  the  affairs  of  life. 

Without  referring  to  the  amount  of  time  that 
may  reasonably  be  devoted  to  the  acquisition 
of  short-hand,  or  to  the  tax  upon  the  health 
inseparable  from  its  practice,  let  us  note  the 
speed  that  is  required  of  it.  That  is  contained 
within  quite  variable  limits.  For  example,  a 
speed  of  twenty  words  per  minute  may  suffice 
for  the  transaction  of  some  kinds  of  business, 
and  then  long-hand  may  be  employed.  The 
speed  of  the  voice,  when  operating  naturally,, 
ranges  all  the  way  from  60  to  350  words  per 
minute.  That  includes,  probably,  all  that  is 
often  attained  in  practice ;  yet,  under  exceptional 
circumstances,  it  is  considerably  greater.  In 
some  experiments,  conducted  under  the  auspices 
of  the  United  States  navy,  language,  was  trans- 
mitted by  telephone  at  the  rate  of  500  words 
per  minute.  Private  individuals  have  claimed 
to  accomplish  the  same;  and  admissions  have 
been  made  by  short-hand  authors,  that  with 


INTRODUCTION. 


tolerable  articulation,  a  speed  of  from  400  to 
500  words  per  minute  may  be  attained. 

To  meet  these  requirements,  we  have  in  one 
system  of  short  hand,  as  claimed  by  its  author, 
a  speed  of  150  words  per  minute.  Another 
claims  for  his  nearly  200  words  per  minute. 
Other  claims  have  been  made,  reaching  a  maxi- 
mum speed  of  250  words  per  minute,  but  such 
claims  have  been  denied  by  others ;  yet  allow- 
ing for  short-hand  the  maximum  speed  that 
has  been  claimed  for  it,  it  is  then  only  about 
one-half  the  maximum  speed  of  the  voice. 
When  the  articulation  is  very  rapid,  it  is  less 
distinct ;  and  where  the  writing  is  very  rapid,  it 
is  less  legible ;  but  allowing  distinctness  of 
speaking  to  offset  legibility  of  writing,  there 
would  seem. to  be  no  doubt,  from  all  that  can 
be  gathered  on  the  subject,  that  the  speed  with 
which  language  can  be  uttered  by  the  vocal  or- 
gans, to  that  with  which  such  language  can  be 
recorded  in  short-hand,  is  about  as  two  to  one. 

It  is  readily  seen  that  while  such  short-hand 
systems  will  answer  very  well  in  many  cases, 
there  are  others  in  which  they  would  be  very 
inadequate. 

That  satisfactory  reports  have  been  made 
of  very  rapid  speeches  is  true  ;  but  such  re- 
ports, it  is  claimed,  are  to  be  referred  more  to 
the  superior  physical  and  mental  qualities  of 
the  stenographers  than  to  the  adequacy  of  the 
short-hand  system  emploj'ed  ;  and  such,  without 
doubt,  is  the  case.  Among  such  qualities  may 
be  enumerated,  extraordinary  retentiveness  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


memory,  an  intimate  knowledge  of  all  the  details 
of  the  subject-matter  referred  to  by  the  speaker, 
and  an  almost  intuitive  perception  of  what  in- 
accurate and  illegible  short-hand  characters 
were  intended  to  represent,  and  an  easy  style  of 
composition.  Many  stenographers  are  more 
capable  of  discussing  ably  various  subjects  than 
the  speakers  whom  they  report,  and  can,  by 
various  changes,  add  elegance  and  force  to  their 
speeches  ;  a  proceeding  which  most  speakers  sub- 
mit to  with  marked  resignation.  There  are  also 
said  to  be  scholarly  long-hand  reporters,  who, 
without  taking  down  one  word  in  ten  of  a  speech, 
are  able  to  present  a  report  of  it  that  is  quite 
satisfactory  to  the  public  ;  but  such  reports  are 
more  like  the  pencil  sketch  of  a  landscape  that 
represents,  in  a  pleasing  manner,  only  its  gen- 
eral features.  They  would  not  be  satisfactory 
were  it  known  that  they  were  to  a  great  extent 
the  work  of  the  reporter,  instead  of  the  speaker. 
The  verbatim  report,  on  the  contrary,  is  more 
like  the  photograph,  which  truthfully  gives  both 
general  features  and  details. 

It  is  believed  that  all  criticisms  of  the  better 
systems  of  short-hand  have  their  origin  in  the 
difficulties  encountered  in  attempts  to  secure 
the  requisite  speed.  The  theory  of  short-h;ind 
can  be  readily  learned,  and,  with  a  few  weeks' 
practice,  a  speed  of  100  words  per  minute  may 
be  attained.  But  it  is  in  securing  a  high  speed 
that  a  great  length  of  time  is  required ;  for,  as 
the  rate  is  increased,  the  time  required  for  its 
attainment  increases  in  a  much  more  rapid 


LA 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 

INTRODUCTION. 


ratio.  It  has  been  estimated,  by  experienced 
stenographers,  that  fully  one-half  of  the  whole 
time  required  was  devoted  to  the  attainment  of 
the  last  one-tenth  of  the  speed  realized. 

At  a  speed  of  100  words  per  minute,  short- 
hand can  be  written  with  a  legibility  that  is 
little  inferior  to  print.  But  as  it  is  increased, 
the  legibility  gradually  fades.  Above  150  words 
per  minute,  with  the  average  writer,  it  begins  to 
enter  the  domain  of  uncertainty.  At  200  words 
per  minute,  many  of  the  outlines  are  so  much 
distorted,  that  they  would  hardly  be  recognized 
by  the  geometrical  forms  of  such  words  ;  and  the 
notes,  in  such  cases,  are  perused,  in  part,  by 
the  aid  of  memory,  or  by  a  kind  of  sagacity  akin 
to  that  which  enables  the  American  Indian  to 
follow  the  trail  of  game  by  indications  that 
could  not  be  perceived  by  an  ordinary  observer. 

The  fatigue  occasioned  by  writing  short-hand 
is  very  inconsiderable  when  writing  at  a  speed 
of  120  words  per  minute,  and  the  effort  may  be 
maintained,  without  exhaustion,  for  a  long  time. 
But  it  is  different  when  the  rate  is  high.  It  is 
then  very  taxing  to  the  physical  powers. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  advantageous  to 
note  the  contrast  between  the  promoters  of 
music  and  those  of  short-hand. 

In  the  system  of  musical  notation  most  in  use, 
the  promoters  of  music  have  maintained  great 
uniformity,  so  that  a  musical  composition  can 
be  read  by  the  musicians  of  most  countries  ; 
while  the  promoters  of  short-hand  have  made-, 
and  are  constantly  making,  numerous  changes 


10  INTRODUCTION. 


in  their  methods  of  representing. vocal  sounds, 
so  that  the  writing  of  few  iii  the  same  country 
is  legible  to  other  writers. 

In  manipulating  many  of  the  primitive  musi- 
cal instruments,  but  a  single  hand  was  employed  ; 
while  in  those  of  modern  construction  both  hands 
are  generally  used,  and  in  some  cases  the  feet  as 
well.  Yet  in  the  execution  of  short-hand  little 
advance  has  been  made  on  methods  employed 
by  Tyro,  nineteen  centuries  since,  and  a  single 
hand  is  employed  now  as  then. 

The  masters  of  the  art  of  music  organize  their 
performers  into  orchestras,  whence,  by  a  united 
and  simultaneous  action,  they  are  enabled  to 
execute  musical  compositions  and  attain  results 
entirely  out  of  the  power  of  a  single  individual ; 
while  in  the  execution  of  short-hand,  aside  from 
making  a  transcript,  a  score  of  short-hand  writ- 
ers would  scarcely  be  more  efficient  than  one. 

The  above  references  to  the  defects  of  short- 
hand are  only  for  the  purpose  of  indicating  the 
means  by  which  they  may  be  obviated.  How 
to  remedy  such  defects  is  the  paramount  ques- 
tion, and  the  only  one  it  is  necessary  to  consider. 
It  is  apparent,  in  the  first  phice,  that  a  high 
speed  of  writing,  as  ordinarily  executed,  must 
be  avoided.  The  necessary  speed  must  be  de- 
veloped from  a  moderate  rate.  We  must  secure 
rapidity  when  writing  slowly,  anomalous  as 
such  a  proposition  may  seem. 

To  the  attainment  of  this  end,  the  general 
principles  upon  which  the  well-tried  expedients 
employed  by  musicians  are  founded,  may  be 


WRITING    IN    CONCERT.  11 

applied ;  for  while  the  execution  of  airs  upon 
musical  instruments  is  not  identical  with  the 
execution  of  short-hand,  there  is  in  many  re- 
spects a  similarity,  and  by  a  proper  adaptation 
such  principles  may  be  applied  as  advanta- 
geously in  the  execution  of  short-hand  as  of 
musical  compositions. 

The  means  by  which  that   is   accomplished 
will  be  explained  in  a  succeeding  chapter. 


WRITING  IN  CONCERT. 

THIS  method  involves  simultaneous  writing, 
by  two  or  more  writers,  each  writing  alternate 
takes  or  passages  of  about  ten  or  fifteen  words 
each,  in  a  regular  rotation.  There  is  scarcely 
a  limit  to  the  number  of  writers  that  may  be 
employed,  or  to  the  speed  that  may  be  attained. 
The  writing  is  regulated  by  a  system  of  cues  or 
signals,  by  which  each  writer  is  enabled  to 
determine  the  particular  portion  of  the  passage 
assigned  to  him,  and  which  also  prevent  any 
confusion  in  perusing  the  notes.  These  cues 
are,  invariably,  the  last  word  of  each  passage. 

An  explanation  of  the  manner  of  writing  in 
concert,  and  the  application  of  cues,  will  be 
more  readily  understood  after  making  an  ex- 
amination of  a  specimen  of  the  writing.  Accord- 
ingly an  exercise  is  herewith  given,  which  is  ex- 
ecuted by  four  writers. 


12  WHITING    IN    CONCEUT. 


KEY  TO  ANNEXED   EXEKCISE. 


Perhaps,  in  this  neglected  spot  is  laid 

Some  heart  once  pregnant  with  celestial  fire  ; 

Hands  that  the  rod  of  empire  might  have  swayed, 
Or  waked  to  ecstasy  the  living  lyre. 

But  knowledge  to  their  eyes  her  ample  page, 
"Rich  with  the  spoils  of  time,  did  ne'er  unroll ; 

Chill  penury  repressed  their  noble  rage, 
And  froze  the  genial  current  of  the  soul. 

Full  many  a  gem  of  purest  ray  serene 

The  dark,  unfathomed  caves  of  ocean  bear  ; 

Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air. 

Some   village    Hampden,   that   with    dauntless 

breast 

The  little  tyrant  of  his  fields  withstood, 
Some  mute,  inglorious  Milton  here  may  rest ; 
Some   Cromwell,   guiltless  of    his  country's 
blood. 


WHITING    IN    COM'KKT.  115 


Tli'  applause  of  listening  senates  to  command, 
The  threats  of  pain  and  ruin  to  despise, 

To  scatter  plenty  o'er  a  smiling  land, 

And  read  their  history  in  a  nation's  eyes, 

Their  lot  forbade  ;  nor  circumscribed  alone 
Their  growing  virtues,  but  their  crimes  con- 
fined ; 

Forbade  to  wade  through  slaughter  to  a  throne, 
And  shut  the  gates  of  mercy  on  mankind. 

The  struggling  pangs  of  conscious  truth  to  hide, 
To  quench  the  blushes  of  ingenuous  shame, 

Or  heap  the  shrine  of  luxury  and  pride 
With  incense  kindled  at  the  inuse's  name. 


14  SHORT  HAND  EXECUTION. 


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WRITING  IN  CONCERT. 


15 


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1(>  SHOUT    HAND    EXECUTION. 


METHOD   OF   EXECUTION. 

IN  executing  the  foregoing  exercise,  let  the 
writers  be  seated  equidistant  around  a  table. 
It  is  desirable  that  the  table  should  not  be  too 
large,  as  the  cues  may  be  more  readily  and  cer- 
tainly passed  when  the  writers  are  near  each 
other.  One  about  two  or  three  feet  square  will 
be  found  to  answer  the  purpose  well.  If  the 
paper  is  held  in  the  hand  a  table  may  be  dis- 
pensed with,  and  the  writers  sit  or  stand  in  a 
group. 

The  paper  of  each  writer  should  contain  an 
equal  number  of  lines  per  page,  and  should  be 
of  such  width  that  it  will  contain  not  less  than 
ten  words  to  the  line.  We  will  suppose  a  reader 
is  employed  to  read  the  poem  at  the  rate  of 
about  400  words  per  minute,  and  that  each 
writer  is  capable  of  writing,  easily  and  legibly, 
100  words  per  minute.  One  of  the  writers, 
which  we  will  designate  the  first  writer,  will 
commence  with  the  reader,  and  write  the  first 
line.  The  second  writer,  or  the  one  sitting  to 
the  right  of  the  first,  will  write  the  second  line, 
the  third'  will  write  the  third  line,  and  the  fourth 
the  fourth  line.  In  this  manner  the  whole 


WRITING    IN   CONCERT.  17 

stanza  will  be  written,  each  writer  writing  one- 
fourth  of  it;  and,  if  each  can  write  easily  at  the 
rate  of  100  words  per  minute,  it  is  evident  they 
can  readily  follow  the  reader  at  400  words  per 
minute. 

To  peruse  the  notes,  place  the  pages  of  the  dif- 
ferent writers  adjacent  to  each  other,  in  the  order 
in  which  they  were  written,  so  that  the  lines 
will  correspond,  and  read  continuously  across 
the  four  pages.  Each  stanza  will  be  expressed 
by  a  continuous  line  across  the  four  pages. 

As  before  remarked,  in  order  that  each  writer 
may  understand  the  particular  portion  of  the 
text  assigned  to  him,  it  is  necessary  that  there 
should  be  a  system  of  signals  available,  and  that 
consists  of  each  writer  repeating  the  last  word 
of  the  passage  written  by  his  predecessor.  For 
example,  in  the  foregoing  exercise,  the  first 
writer  begins  with  the  reader  to  write  the  first 
line.  As  soon  as  the  reader  has  completed  the 
first  line,  the  second  writer  repeats  the  word 
laid,  which  is  the  first  cue,  and  which  the  first 
writer  understands  will  constitute  the  last 
word  of  his  passage  or  line.  The  second  writer, 
after  calling  the  cue,  immediately  proceeds  with 
the  writing  of  the  second  line,  and,  as  soon  as 
the  reader  has  completed  the  second  line,  the 
2 


18  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

third  writer  calls  the  word  fire,  which  is  the 
second  cue,  and  which  will  be  the  last  word  of 
the  line  written  by  the  second  writer.  The  third 
writer  immediately  proceeds  with  the  writing  of 
the  third  line ;  and  when  the  reader  has  finished 
the  third  line,  the  fourth  writer  calls  the  word 
swayed,  which  is  the  third  cue.  The  fourth 
writer  proceeds  with  Avriting  the  fourth  line  ;  and 
when  he  has  finished  the  stanza,  the  first  writer 
calls  the  word  lyrt,  which  is  the  last  word  of  the 
line  written  by  the  fourth  writer.  The  first 
writer  now  proceeds  with  the  first  line  of  the 
second  stanza,  and  each  writer  succeeds  him  as 
before.  All  the  other  stanzas  are  executed  in 
a  similar  manner. 

Although  so  great  a  number  of  writers  is  not 
often  required  in  practice,  as  is  represented  in 
the  execution  of  the  above  exercise,  yet  any 
number  ma}r  be  employed  to  secure  the  desired 
speed,  be  it  greater  or  less.  The  possibilities 
of  the  system  are  thereby  illustrated,  and  it  is 
seen  how  a  very  high  speed  may  be  developed, 
by  a  number  of  writers,  each  writing  at  a  mod- 
erate rate. 

It  is  also  evident  that  such  writing  can  be 
accurately  executed,  and  voweled,  if  need  be,  so 
as  to  secure  entire  legibility  ;  and  that  such 


WHITING   IN   CONCERT.  19 

rate  may  be  maintained  for  an  indefinite  length 
of  time  without  excessive  mental  strain  or 
fatigue. 

As  before  stated,  any  system  of  short-hand 
may  be  employed,  and,  where  short-hand  is  not 
available,  long-hand  may  be  used,  though  the 
more  rapid  the  system  of  writing  the  fewer 
writers  will  be  necessary  to  attain  a  given 
speed.  A  rapid  long-hand  writer  can  write  30 
words  per  minute  and  upwards.  Six  or  seven 
such  writers,  trained  to  write  in  concert,  can  at- 
tain a  speed  that  will  suffice,  many  times,  for 
verbatim  reporting ;  with  this  advantage  in 
favor  of  long-hand,  the  original  notes,  with 
some  attention  to  punctuation,  etc.,  might  serve 
in  place  of  a  transcript  of  short-hand  notes. 

TWO   ASSOCIATE  -WRITERS. 

A  COKPS  of  two  short-hand  writers  will  gen- 
erally be  found  to  be  the  most  desirable  number, 
because  most  easily  secured,  and  because,  if 
competent,  they  will  be  able  to  perform  anything 
that  is  likely  to  be  required  of  them.  It  is  also 
a  convenient  number  for  practice. 

The  mode  of  procedure  is  similar  to  that 
already  described.  The  writers  should  sit  con- 


20  SHORT    HAND    KXKCfTION. 

venientlj  near  each  other  that  the  cues  may  be 
readily  passed.  If  a  table  is  made  use  of,  a 
small  one  is  preferable.  If  the  paper  is  held 
upon  a  writing-case,  the  seats  may  be  placed 
nearly  alongside  each  other  and  facing  in  op- 
posite directions. 

The  first  writer  begins  with  the  speaker;  and, 
after  he  has  spoken  about  ten  or  fifteen  words, 
the  second  writer  calls  a  cue  for  his  associate, 
which  cue  will  be  the  last  word  of  the  passage 
written  by  the  first  writer. 

The  second  writer  then  proceeds  with  the 
words  following  such  cue ;  but  he  may,  at  his 
option,  write  the  cue  of  his  associate  at  the 
beginning  of  his  own  take,  which  is  termed 
"repeating  the  cue."  This  is  often  desirable, 
for,  in  perusing  the  notes,  it  assists  the  reader 
to  identify  the  proper  line  in  passing  from  page 
to  page. 

When  the  speaker  has  uttered  about  ten  or 
fifteen  words  more,  the  first  writer  will  have 
completed  his  take,  and  will  call  a  cue  for  his 
associate,  and  the  writers  will  proceed  in  this 
way,  writing  alternate  passages.  It  is  not 
essential  that  both  writers  should  write  at  nearly 
the  same  speed.  One  may  write  at  the  rate  of 
75,  and  the  other  150  words  per  minute. 


WRITING    IN    CONCERT.  21 

The  calling  of  cues  is  the  only  feature  that 
renders  writing  in  concert  more  difficult  than 
ordinary  writing.  To  do  this  properly,  will 
require  some  practice.  The  amount  assigned 
in  each  passage  should  be  such  a  number  of 
words  that  it  can  be  easily  retained  in  the 
memory  of  the  writer,  and  as  will  complete  a 
line  across  the  paper.  This  will  generally  be 
about  ten  words,  but  will,  to  a  great  extent, 
depend  upon  the  writer  and  his  style  of  writing. 

If  the  cues  are  called  too  often,  there  will  be 
few  words  in  each  take,  resulting  in  a  loss  of 
paper,  and  needless  labor  in  making  the  calls. 

If  they  are  not  called  sufficiently  often,  there 
will  be  more  than  can  be  written  on  a  line, 
necessitating  interlining,  or  the  use  of  an  extra 
line.  That  it  is  well  to  avoid,  as  the  pages  will 
not  correspond  so  well  when  placed  side  by  side. 

It  is  better  to  select  for  a  cue  a  word  which 
immediately  precedes  a  pause,  either  gram- 
matical or  rhetorical,  and  words  embodying  a 
prominent  vowel  sound,  and  not  of  too  great 
length,  are  to  be  preferred. 

These  suggestions  cannot  always  be  carried 
out,  for  it  is  important,  also,  to  select  for  a  cue 
the  word  which  the  speaker  uttered  just  as  the 
writer  finished  his  passage,  and  which  was 


22  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

uttered  immediately  before  the  cue  was  called. 
For,  in  case  the  word  is  not  understood  by  the 
associate  of  the  caller,  he  will  know  it  was  the 
one  that  the  speaker  had  just  uttered  when  the 
call  was  made,  and  that  will  assist  him  in  de- 
termining the  proper  word. 

If  the  cue  is  not  understood  by  the  writer, 
he  should  write  a  few  more  words  than  is 
thought  to  be  necessary,  so  as  to  be  sure  the 
cue  is  reached.  Should  he  write  beyond  the 
cue,  it  will  cause  the  passages  to  "lap,"  but 
that  occasions  no  difficulty  in  perusing  the  notes. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  the  cue  should  be 
called  in  a  tone  of  voice  so  loud  as  to  attract 
attention,  or  so  that  it  can  be  heard  by  any  but 
the  writers.  As  each  is  aware  that  the  cue 
called  is  the  word  which  has  just  been  pro- 
nounced by  the  speaker,  a  moderate  whisper 
will  generally  be  sufficient  to  designate  the 
correct  word. 

When  repeating  the  cue  in  writing  long-hand, 
an  initial  letter  or  syllable  will  generally  be  suf- 
ficient. In  some  cases,  other  signals,  such  as 
a  motion  of  the  foot,  have  been  employed  in 
place  of  a  spoken  word. 

Writing  in  concert  has  been  practiced  during 
religious  services  without  attracting  attention, 


WRITING   IN   CONCERT.  23 

and  the  charges  of  judges  have  been  taken  by 
writers  seated  at  the  table  with  others,  who 
supposed  that  only  ordinary  short-hand  was 
being  practiced. 

A  writer  who  has  been  in  the  habit  of  writ- 
ing only  about  150  words  per  minute  is  apt  to 
become  confused  in  attempting  to  write  when 
the  utterance  is  very  rapid.  That  may  be  ob- 
viated by  special  practice.  It  will  be  found 
serviceable  for  him  to  employ  a  person  to  read 
at  the  rate  of  250  or  300  words  per  minute,  and 
to  take  down  as  nearly  as  possible  each  tenth 
word.  The  ear  will  thereby  be  disciplined  to 
the  rapid  utterance,  and  the  writer  will  gradu- 
ally become  accustomed  to  designate  a  passage 
of  ten  words  by  hearing  it,  and  without  counting 
the  words.  A  book  of  prose,  containing  about 
ten  words  per  line,  will  answer,  and  the  list  of 
words  taken  down  may  then  be  compared  with 
the  printed  page,  to  ascertain  if  passages  of  the 
required  length  have  been  designated. 

In  the  following  exercise  the  number  of  words 
assigned  in  the  different  takes  is  quite  variable, 
which  in  practice  would  indicate  a  variable 
speed  in  the  rate  of  the  speaker.  The  size  of 
the  short-hand  characters,  too,  for  the  sake  of 
convenience,  is  reduced  about  one-third. 


24  SHORT  HAND  EXECUTION. 


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WUITINGT  IN  CONCERT. 


25 


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26 


SHORT  HAND  EXECUTION. 


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28 


SHORT  HAND  EXECUTION. 


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WRITING  IN  CONCERT. 


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-JO  SHOUT    HAND   EXECUTION. 

KEY. 

^ 

AMERICA  THE   OLD  WORLD. 

BY   LOUIS   AGASSIZ. 

FIRST-BORN  among  the  continents,  though  so 
much  later  in  culture  and  civilization  than  some 
of  more  recent  birth,  America,  so  far  as  her 
physical  history  is  concerned,  has  been  falsely 
denominated  the  New  World.  Hers  was  the 
first  dry  land  lifted  out  of  the  waters,  hers  the 
first  sliores  washed  by  the  ocean  that  envel- 
oped all  the  earth  beside ;  and,  while  Europe 
was  represented  only  by  islands  rising  here  and 
there  above  the  sea,  America  already  stretched 
an  unbroken  line  of  land  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
the  far  West. 

There  was  a  time  when  our  earth  was  in  a 
state  of  igneous  fusion,  when  no  ocean  bathed 
it,  and  no  atmosphere  surrounded  it,  when  no 
wind  blew  over  it,  and  no  rain  fell  upon  it,  but 


WHITING   IN   CONCEKT. 


an  intense  heat  held  all  its  materials  in  solution. 
In  those  days,  the  rocks,  which  are  now  the 
very  bones  and  sinews  of  our  mother  earth  — 
her  granites,  her  porphyries,  her  basalts,  her 
syenites  —  were  melted  into  a  liquid  mass. 

From  artesian  wells,  from  mines,  from  gey- 
sers, from  hot  springs,  a  mass  of  facts  has  been 
collected,  proving,  incontestably,  the  heated 
condition  of  all  substances  at  a  certain  depth 
below  the  earth's  surface  ;  and  if  we  need  more 
positive  evidence,  we  have  it  in  the  fiery  erup- 
tions that  even  now  bear  fearful  testimony  to 
the  molten  ocean  seething  within  the  globe,  and 
forcing  its  way  out  from  time  to  time.  The 
modern  progress  of  geology  has  led  us,  by 
successive  and  perfectly  connected  steps,  back 
to  a  time  when  what  is  now  only  an  occasional 
and  rare  phenomenon  was  the  normal  condition 
of  our  earth  ;  when  those  internal  fires  were 
enclosed  in  an  envelop  so  thin  that  it  opposed 
but  little  resistance  to  their  frequent  outbreak, 
and  they  constantly  forced  themselves  through 
this  crust,  pouring  out  melted  materials  that 
subsequently  cooled  and  consolidated  on  its 


32  SHOKT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

surface.  So  constant  were  those  eruptions,  and 
so  slight  was  the  resistance  they  encountered, 
that  some  portions  of  the  earlier  rock  deposits 
are  perforated  with  numerous  chimneys,  narrow 
tunnels  as  it  were,  bored  by  the  liquid  masses 
that  poured  out  through  them,  and  greatly 
modified  their  first  condition. 

There  was  another  element  without  the 
globe  equally  powerful  in  building  it  up.  Fire 
and  water  wrought  together  in  this  work,  if  not 
alwa}^s  harmoniously,  at  least  with  equal  force 
and  persistency.  Water  is  a  very  active  agent 
of  destruction,  but  it  works  over  again  the  ma- 
terials it  pulls  down  or  wears  away,  and  builds 
them  up  anew  in  other  forms. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  part  of  the  world — cer- 
tainly none  familiar  to  science — where  the  early 
geological  periods  can  be  studied  with  so  much 
ease  and  precision  as  in  the  United  States. 
Along  their  northern  borders,  between  Canada 
and  the  United  States,  there  runs  the  low  line 
of  hills  known  as  the  Laurentian  hills.  Insig- 
nificant in  height,  nowhere  rising  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  feet  above  the 


WRITING    IN   CONCERT.  83 

level  of  the  sea,  these  are,  nevertheless,  the 
first  mountains  that  broke  the  uniform  level  of 
the  earth's  surface,  and  lifted  themselves  above 
the  waters.  Their  low  stature,  as  compared 
with  that  of  other  more  lofty  mountain  ranges, 
is  in  accordance  •  with  an  invariable  rule  by 
which  the  relative  ages  of  mountains  may  be 
estimated.  The  oldest  mountains  are  the  low- 
est, while  the  younger  and  more  recent  ones 
tower  above  their  elders,  and  are  usually  more 
torn  and  dislocated  also.  This  is  easily  under- 
stood when  we  remember  that  all  mountains 
and  mountain  chains  are  the  result  of  upheavals, 
and  that  the  violence  of  the  outbreak  must  have 
been  in  proportion  to  the  strength  of  the  resist- 
ance. 

When  the  crust  of  the  earth  was  so  thin  that 
the  heated  masses  within  easily  broke  through  it, 
they  were  not  thrown  to  so  great  a  height,  and 
formed  comparatively  low  elevations,  such  as 
the  Canadian  hills  or  the  mountains  of  Bre- 
tagne  and  Wales.  But  in  later  times,  when 
young,  vigorous  giants,  such  as  the  Alps,  the 
Himalayas,  or,  later  still,  the  Rocky  Mountains, 


34  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

forced  their  way  out  from  their  fiery  prison- 
house,  the  crust  of  the  earth  was  much  thicker, 
and  fearful,  indeed,  must  have  been  the  convul- 
sions which  attended  their  exit. 

Such,  then,  was  the  earliest  American  land— 
a  long,  narrow  island,  almost  continental  in  its 
proportions,  since  it  stretched  from  the  eastern 
borders  of  Canada  nearly  to  the  point  where 
now  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  meets  the 
plane  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  We  may  still 
walk  along  its  ridge,  and  know  that  we  tread 
upon  the  ancient  granite  that  first  divided  the 
waters  into  a  northern  and  southern  ocean ; 
and,  if  our  imaginations  will  carry  us  so  far,  we 
may  look  down  toward  its  base,  and  fancy  how 
the  sea  washed  against  this  earliest  shore  of  a 
lifeless  world. 

This  is  no  romance,  but  the  bold,  simple 
truth ;  for  the  fact  that  this  granite  baud  was 
lifted  out  of  the  waters  so  early  in  the  history  of 
the  world,  and  has  not  since  been  submerged, 
has,  of  course,  prevented  any  subsequent  de- 
posits from  forming  above  it.  And  this  is  true 
of  all  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States. 


WBITING   IN   CONCERT.  35 

It  has  been  lifted  gradually,  the  beds  deposited 
in  one  period  being  subsequently  raised,  and 
forming  a  shore  along  which  those  of  the  suc- 
ceeding one  collected,  so  that  we  have  their 
whole  sequence  before  us. 

For  this  reason  the  American  continent  offers 
facilities  to  the  geologist  denied  to  him  in  the 
so-called  Old  World,  where  the  earlier  deposits 
are  comparatively  hidden,  and  the  broken  char- 
acter of  the  land,  intersected  by  mountains  in 
every  direction,  renders  his  investigations  still 
more  difficult. 


SHOUT   HAND   EXECUTION. 


TURNING  PAGES. 

IT  is  intended  that  both  writers  will  complete 
their  pages  at  the  same  time,  beginning  at  the 
same  time,  and  writing  line  for  line.  In  this 
way  the  lines  will  correspond  which  begin  and 
end  with  the  same  cue  ;  but  when  cues  are  oc- 
casionally repeated,  no  difficulty  will  arise  in 
perusing  the  notes,  though  there  may  not  be  a 
correspondence  in  lines. 

If  it  should  be  necessary  for  one  of  the  writers 
to  use  two  lines  while  his  associate  has  used  but 
one,  so  as  to  derange  the  correspondence  of  the 
lines  on  a  page,  the  same  should  be  restored 
by  both  beginning  the  succeeding  page  at  the 
same  time. 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  foregoing  exercise, 
that  the  cues  are  not  always  repeated,  or  writ- 
ten at  the  beginning  of  a  passage.  This  is  a 
feature  which,  like  vocalization,  may  be  left  to 
the  judgment  of  the  writer.  A  cue  can  be  re- 
peated as  often  as  determined  by  experience  to 
be  necessary.  When  they  are  not  repeated,  the 
space  allotted  to  them,  near  the  margin,  should 
be  left  blank.  Their  position,  and  the  fact  they 


WHITING    LEFT-HANDED.  37 

are  repeated,  will  distinguish  them  from  other 
words. 

It  will  be  observed,  also,  in  some  cases,  that 
the  writer  has  written  past  the  cue.  In  these 
cases  it  is  understood  that  he  did  not  under- 
stand the  cue,  and,  as  a  precaution,  kept  writ- 
ing on  to  the  end  of  the  line,  so  as  not  to  omit 
any  of  the  text. 


WRITING   LEFT-HANDED. 

EXPERIENCE  proves  that  the  left  hand  is 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  susceptible  of  train- 
ing as  the  right  hand.  That  is  shown  by 
the  performances  on  nearly  all  modern  musical 
instruments,  and  those  most  difficult  of  execu- 
tion, the  violin,  piano,  flute,  and  many  others. 
To  exclude  the  use  of  the  left  hand  would  be 
to  do  away  with  all  excellence  in  musical  exe- 
cution. 

The  violinist  not  only  holds  his  instrument 
with  his  left  hand,  but  executes  with  it  an  es- 
sential part  in  producing  the  music.  The  type- 
writer operator  performs  nearly  half  of  the  la- 
bor with  his  left  hand.  And  in  other  fields  of 


449558 


38  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

labor  we  see  that  the  left  eye,  ear,  arm,  and  limb 
perform  an  amount  nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal  to 
that  of  the  right. 

These  facts  suggest,  at  least,  that  the  left  hand 
of  the  writer  should  not  be  wholly  devoted  to 
the  passive  duty  of  paper-holding. 

There  are  especial  advantages  arising  to  the 
writer  from  the  possession  of  a  trained  left 
hand. 

It  serves  in  case  the  right  hand  has  been  dis- 
abled by  accident.  It  can  be  used  to  relieve 
the  right  hand  from  excessive  labor,  lessening 
and  obviating  many  causes  of  debility,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  cramp,  paralysis, 
rheumatism,  etc. 

A  greater  amount  of  labor  can  also  be  per- 
formed than  when  the  use  of  the  left  hand  is 
not  rendered  available. 

As  before  stated,  it  will  not  be  attempted,  in 
these  pages,  to  give  instruction  how  to  write 
short-hand  with  the  right  hand.  That  is  done 
in  all  the  text-books  devoted  to  the  exposition 
of  short-hand.  It  represents  the  one  method  of 
execution  that  has  been  adhered  to  by  all  short- 
hand authors,  as  well  as,  for  the  most  part,  by 
both  short-hand  and  long-hand  writers.  Occa- 
sionally the  left  hand  has  been  employed  in 


WRITING   LEFT-HANDED.  39 

writing,  but  this  has  generally  been  compulsory, 
ou  account  of  the  loss  of  the  use  of  the  right 
hand.  The  success  attending  such  efforts  has 
usually  been  quite  remarkable,  although  the 
practice  has  been  to  write  the  same  alphabet, 
in  the  same  direction,  with  the  left  hand,  that  is 
written  with  the  right.  That  puts  the  left  hand 
at  a  disadvantage.  The  left  hand  should  be 
provided  with  the  same  respective  alphabet,  one 
corresponding  to  that  of  the  right,  but  it  should 
not  be  the  same.  The  left  arm  is  placed  on  the 
left  side  of  the  body,  as  the  right  arm  is  on  the 
right  side.  If  the  right  arm  is  moved  to  the 
right,  a  corresponding  motion  of  the  left  arm 
would  be  to  the  left,  or  in  an  opposite  direction. 
Accordingly,  the  movements  of  the  left  hand  in 
executing  written  characters  should  be  opposite 
those  of  the  right  hand. 

At  the  same  time  it  is  desirable  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  providing  a  new  and  arbitrary 
alphabet  for  the  left  hand,  unlike  that  of  the 
right  hand,  which  would  be  difficult  to  learn, 
and  liable  to  engender  confusion. 

Happily  the  difficulties  above  referred  to  can 
be  avoided,  and  an  alphabet  secured  which  can 
be  written  freely  and  naturally  with  the  left 
hand,  and  the  memory  is  not  taxed  in  committing 


40  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

it,  as  it  is  derived  from  the  right-hand  alphabet, 
being  a  modification  of  the  same.  This  modifi- 
cation consists,  for  the  most  part,  in  writing 
it  in  a  reversed  position.  It  thus  becomes  a 
separate  system  that  may  be  written  with  the 
left  hand  independent  of  the  right.  It  is  not 
only  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  written  with 
great  facility  with  the  left  hand,  but  our  knowl- 
edge of  writing  executed  \yith  the  right  hand  is 
made  the  "  key  "  by  which  we  can  readily  and 
easily  acquire  a  like  knowledge  of  that  written 
with  the  left  hand.  If  we  can  write  words  or 
sentences  in  long-hand  with  the  right  hand,  we 
can  very  readily  determine  the  manner  of  writ- 
ing the  same  with  the  left ;  and  if  we  can  write 
a  word  or  sentence  in  short-hand,  and  correctly 
vowel  the  same,  we  can  as  correctly  write  and 
vowel  the  same  with  the  left  hand.  By  a  kind 
of  reversal,  signs,  words,  or  sentences  written 
with  the  right  hand  are  made  to  represent  those 
written  with  the  left,  thereby  avoiding  the  diffi- 
culties incident  to  providing  an  arbitrary  alpha- 
bet for  the  left  hand. 

The  following  will  serve  as  an  infallible  rule 
for  ascertaining  the  left  form  of  any  sign,  word, 
or  phrase  which  can  be  written  with  the  right 
hand: 


WRITING   LEFT-HANDED.  41 

"  Write  the  given  sign,  word,  or  phrase  on  trans- 
parent paper  with  the  right  hand,  then  change  the 
/>«/>*'i',  end  for  end,  and  surface  for  surface,  ivhen 
the  left  form  of  the  given  sign,  ivord,  or  phrase 
will  be  represented'' 

For  example,  write  the  phrase,  "  Since  that 
time,"  in  long-hand,  thus  : 


Reversing  agreeable  to  the  rule,  and  we  have  for 
the  left  hand  : 


Representing  the  same  by  short-hand  charac- 
ters, and  we  have  with  the  right  hand  : 


( 

v 

Reversing,  and  we  have  for  the  left  hand  : 


The  same  effect  will  be  produced,  if,  instead 
of  reversing  the  characters  written  with  the 
right  hand,  their  reflection  from  a  mirror  be 
viewed.  That  will  produce  a  similar  reversal. 


42  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

A  small  amount  of  practice  only  will  be  neces- 
sary to  enable  the  writer  to  determine  the  left 
form  of  any  word  or  phrase  mentally. 

From  what  has  now  been  shown,  it  can  be 
seen  that  left  signs  or  words,  being  similarly  re- 
versed, become  right  words.  In  this  way  the 
various  left  forms  may  be  verified,  and  any  de- 
fects of  form  more  clearly  pointed  out. 

This  part  of  our  subject  will  be  more  fully 
illustrated  by  a  stanza  written  in  long-hand  and 
short,  with  both  the  right  hand  and  left,  and 
from  which  a  comparison  can  be  made. 


WRITING  EITHER-HANDED. 


43 


-to 


~ "^ s~"~  ^c:7----s-      —£$  • 


/...._'..._  .V 


L-LJL.  /L. 


44  SHORT    HAND    EXECUTION. 


KEY  TO  OPPOSITE  PAGE. 

BOOKS. 

IT  is  chiefly  through  books  that  we  enjoy  intercourse 
with  superior  minds,  and  these  invaluable  means  of  com- 
munication are  within  the  reach  of  all.  In  the  best  books 
great  men  talk  to  us — give  us  their  most  precious  thoughts, 
and  pour  their  souls  into  ours.  Books  are  the  true  levelers. 
They  give  to  all  who  will  faithfully  use  them  the  society, 
the  spiritual  presence,  of  the  best  and  greatest  of  our  race. 
No  matter  how  poor  I  am — no  matter  though  the  prosper- 
ous of  my  own  time  will  not  enter  my  obscure  dwelling — if 
the  sacred  writers  will  enter  and  take  up  their  abode  under 
my  roof,  if  Milton  will  cross  my  threshold  to  sing  to  me 
of  Paradise,  and  Shakespeare  to  open  to  me  the  worlds  of 
imagination  and  the  workings  of  the  human  heart,  and 
Franklin  to  enrich  me  with  his  practical  wisdom,  I  shall 
not  pine  for  intellectual  companionship,  and  I  may  become 
a  cultivated  man,  though  excluded  from  the  best  society 
where  I  live. — CHANNING. 


WRITING  LEFT-HANDED. 


45 


d-     _£_<L./r_.J 


46  SHORT   HAND   EXECUTION. 


WKITING  BOTH-HANDED. 

WITH  sufficient  practice,  a  speed  of  writing 
with  the  left  hand  may  be  acquired  nearly  equal 
to  that  of  the  right.  The  practice  necessary, 
however,  is  not  nearly  so  great  as  that  at  first 
required  to  learn  to  write  with  the  right  hand ; 
for.  as  the  mind  has  been  already  trained  to  the 
required  movements,  the  muscles  of  the  left 
hand  alone  have  to  be  educated,  and  they  have 
only  to  imitate  the  movements  of  the  right 
hand. 

But  that  is  of  less  advantage  for  rapid  writing, 
unless  the  capacity  of  each  hand  can  be  made 
available  at  the  same  time.  In  order  to  accom- 
plish this,  it  is  necessary  that  the  hands,  when 
extended  in  writing,  shall  move  in  parallel  lines, 
and  in  the  same  direction,  to  allow  the  pens  to 
be  kept  in  close  proximity  to  each  other,  that 
the  eye  may  take  cognizance  of  both.  In 
writing  with  the  right  hand,  as  is  well  known, 
the  hand  moves  from  left  to  right ;  and  in 
writing  with  the  left  hand,  as  has  been  explained, 
the  hand  moves  from  right  to  left.  In  writing 
both-handed,  however,  each  line  of  writing  is 


WRITING   BOTH-HANDED.  47 

varied  ninety  degrees,  and  made  to  extend  from 
the  writer.  The  pens  will,  in  executing  the 
respective  writing  of  each,  advance  in  parallel 
lines,  and  always  be  contiguous  to  each  other. 
The  notes  may  be  read  with  the  paper  in  the 
same  position. 

In  binding  such  pages  in  book  form,  however, 
it  is  often  more  convenient  to  so  attach  them 
that  the  lines  of  writing  will  appear  to  extend, 
with  the  book  held  in  the  usual  position,  from 
left  to  right.  This  will  bring  the  right-hand 
line  in  its  ordinary  position,  and  cause  the  left 
line  to  be  quite  inverted  ;  and  the  side  of  the 
page  that  was  furthest  from  the  writer  when 
writing,  will  be  the  right  side  of  the  page  of  the 
bound  book.  That  is  of  little  consequence  to 
the  writer,  as  the  relative  position  of  the 
writing  is  not  altered.  It  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood by  reference  to  the  following  illustra- 
tions, wherein  a  number  of  characters,  words, 
and  phrases  are  made  to  indicate  the  position 
of  both-handed  writing. 


48 


WRITING  BOTH-HANDED. 


&  Left  Sigos 


A- 

...v:.. 


-jr^r~*v 

...r !V5**i 


— f*'*  — x — 


-~?- 


VI  \ 

./"./" 


SIMULTANEOUS   WRITING.  49 


SIMULTANEOUS   WRITING. 

HAVING  shown  how  writing  may  be  executed 
with  both  hands,  upon  parallel  lines,  and  in 
such  proximity  that  the  eye  can  take  cognizance 
of  the  operation  of  both  pens  at  the  same  time, 
we  will  now  proceed  to  show  how  a  great  gain 
in  speed  may  be  realized  by  writing  with  both 
hands  simultaneously,  and  availing  ourselves  of 
the  labor  of  each  in  executing  a  single  passage. 
It  is  evident  that  if  we  can  write  one  hundred 
words  per  minute  Math  the  right  hand,  and 
ninety  with  the  left  hand,  that  we  can  write  one 
hundred  and  ninety  words  per  minute,  provided 
we  can  unite  the  capacities  of  each  hand.  That 
is  accomplished  by  employing  each  hand  to 
write  each  alternate  word  of  a  passage.  For 
example,  take  the  sentence,  "  To  be  contents  his 
natural  desire."  "  To "  may  be  written  with 
either  hand,  but  we  will  suppose  it  is  written 
with  the  left  hand.  A  little  in  advance  "  be  " 
will  be  written  with  the  right  hand,  and  in  advance 
of  this,  "contents"  with  the  left  hand;  then 
"his"  with  the  right  hand,  "natural"  with  the 
4 


50  SUOKT   HAND   EXECUTION. 

left  hand,  and  "  desire "  with    the  right  hand, 
thus :  — 

— /—  o—-  > 


IV.L.JV 


Words  differ,  however,  in  regard  to  the  lengtli 
of  time  required  to  write  them,  and,  on  this 
account,  may  be  said  to  be  long  or  short.  When 
it  occurs,  as  it  often  does,  that  the  words  as- 
signed to  each  hand  differ  in  length,  a  loss  of 
time  will  be  occasioned  by  the  hand  which 
executed  the  shorter  word  remaining  idle  till 
the  long  word  is  completed.  That  is  obviated 
by  writing  a  succeeding  word,  or  words,  with  the 
hand  that  executed  the  shorter  word.  Take,  for 
example,  the  phrase,  "  The  violation  of  law." 
"The"  would  be  written  with  the  left  hand, 
and  "  violation  "  with  the  right  hand.  As  the 
former  would  be  completed  much  sooner  than 
the  latter,  the  remaining  time  should  be  em- 
ployed by  the  left  hand  in  writing  the  remaining 
words  of  the  phrase,  thus  : — 


W1UTING    BOTH-HANDED.  .")  I 

Spaces  may  be  left  to  indicate  pauses  in 
speaking ;  and  where  the  words  of  a  phrase  are 
nearly  related  in  sense  they  may  be  written 
more  closely  together,  or  grouped,  which  will 
render  the  writing  more  legible. 

Words,  in  some  cases,  may  be  omitted  in 
phrases  where  they  can  be  supplied  by  the  con- 
text ;  and  those  of  great  length,  or  having  parts 
difficult  to  join,  may  be  divided,  writing  differ- 
ent portions  with  different  pens.  When  that  is 
done,  the  first  half  of  the  word  should  be  written 
in  its  proper  position,  and  the  final  portion  near 
it  and  directly  opposite,  thus  : 


penalty    '"7" 


mental. 


POSITION  IN  WRITING. 


The  writer  should  sit  fronting  the  table,  and 
the  paper  should  be  placed  parallel  with  the 
table,  or  so  that  the  lines  of  writing  will 
extend  directly  from  the  writer.  The  pens  or 
pencils  should  be  held  so  as  to  point  in  oppo- 


MIoKT    HAM)    K\K<  TTION. 


site  directions,  making  an  angle  of  about  forty 
degrees  with  the  horizon,  and  retained  between 
the  first  and  second  fingers,  or  in  a  manner  to 
be  controlled  by  the  thumb  and  first  finger. 
But  those  who  prefer  may  hold  them  as  in  ordi- 
nary writing.  As  the  arms  are  advanced  in 


writing,  motion  should  take  place,  for  the  most 
part,  at  the  elbows,  but,  to  some  extent,  at  the 


WRITING    UOTH-HANDED.  53 

shoulders  and  wrists  ;  especially  should  the 
paper  be  of  considerable  width. 

The  paper  can  best  be  retained  by  having  it 
made  up  in  pads,  the  edges  being  secured  with 
an  adhesive  material,  but  at  the  same  time  so 
slightly  that  the  sheets  can  be  readily  removed. 
Should  the  same  be  necessary,  two  such  pads 
may  be  made  use  of  and  written  on  alternately  ; 
and  the  sheets  can,  in  that  case,  be  removed  by 
an  attendant  so  that  the  writing  will  not  be 
interrupted. 

An  ordinary  note-book  or  loose  paper  is  not 
so  convenient,  for  the  reason  it  is  not  firmly  re- 
tained. 

The  rulings  may  be  about  one  quarter  of  an 
inch  apart,  the  writer  leaving  a  blank  line  be- 
tween the  right  and  left  lines ;  or  it  may  be 
ruled  with  lines  alternately  one-fourth  and 
seven-sixteenths  of  an  inch  apart,  the  writing 
being  executed  between  the  lines  of  greater 
width.  The  writer's  habits  and  style  of  writing 
will  have  much  to  do  with  determining  the  ar- 
rangement of  these  details,  and  a  little  experi- 
ence will  demonstrate  the  more  desirable  meth- 
ods ;  and  the  writer  will  be  enabled  to  make  any 
modifications  that  may  be  found  on  trial  to  be 
desirable. 


54  SHORT    HAND    K.\  !'.<  ITH  >N. 


KEY  TO  OPPOSITE  PAGE. 

WHAT  are  great  and  beneficial  discoveries  in 
their  origin?  What  is  the  process  which  has 
led  to  them?  They  are  the  work  of  rational 
man,  operating  upon  the  materials  existing  in 
nature,  and  observing  the  laws  and  properties 
of  the  physical  world.  The  Creator  of  the  uni- 
verse has  furnished  us  the  material ;  it  is  all 
around  us,  above  us,  and  beneath  us ;  in  the 
ground  under  our  feet,  the  air  we  breathe,  the 
waters  of  the  ocean,  and  of  the  foundations  of 
the  earth ;  and  in  the  various  subjects  of  the 
kingdom  of  nature.  We  cannot  open  our  eyes, 
nor  stretch  out  our  hands,  nor  take  a  step,  bat 
we  see  and  handle  and  tread  upon  the  things 
from  which  the  most  wonderful  and  useful  dis- 
coveries and  inventions  have  been  deduced. 

What  is  gunpowder,  which  has  changed  the 
character  of  modern  warfare  ?  It  is  a  mechan- 
ical mixture  of  some  of  the  most  common  and 
least  costly  substances.  What  is  the  art  of 


WRITING  BOTH-HANDED 


Future  Increase  at 


-  ...... ..... 


v_ 


56  SHORT    HAND   EXECUTION. 

printing?  A  contrivance  less  curious  as  a  piece 
of  mechanism  than  a  musical-box.  What  is 
vaccination  ?  A  trifling  ail  communicated  by  a 
scratch  of  the  lancet,  and  capable  of  protecting 
human  life  against  one  of  the  most  terrible  mal- 
adies to  which  it  is  exposed.  And  are  the  prop- 
erties of  matter  all  discovered,  its  laws  all  found 
out,  the  uses  to  which  they  may  be  applied  all 
detected?  I  cannot  believe  it.  We  cannot 
doubt  that  truths  now  unknown  are  in  reserve 
to  reward  the  patience  and  the  labors  of  future 
lovers  of  truth,  which  will  go  as  far  beyond  the 
brilliant  discoveries  of  the  last  generation  as 
these  do  beyond  all  that  was  known  to  the  an- 
cient world.  The  pages  are  infinite  in  that 
great  volume,  which  was  written  by  the  hand 
Divine,  and  they  are  to  be  gradually  turned,  pe- 
rused, and  announced  to  benefited  and  grateful 
generations  by  genius  and  patience,  and  espe- 
cially by  patience — by  untiring,  enthusiastic, 
self-devoting  patience. 

The  progress  which  has  been  made  in  art  and 
science  is.  indeed,  vast.  We  are  ready  to  think 
that  a  pause  must  follow  ;  that  the  goal  must  be 
at  hand.  But  there  is  no  goal,  and  there  can 
be  no  pause  ;  for  art  and  science  are,  in  them- 
selves, progressive.  They  are  moving  powers, 


WRITING  BOTH-HANDED. 


57 


N> 
~ "^ £j> ^V.^--^-^-^ ^ 

^     x  ^        r  ^    '        ^ . 
"'c"'"7 -^-^-^-70-7^  -vi —  r ,/ 

ZJ      N  ^     ^.,- 

<V>- 1 \  •  ->- c / c—  \ ^~ 

\      I     '        )  /         ^-4.  \         ^-x 

..A-.-.s^-.U .^_^->-.\_,/9 \5 L}ss — 

:-^- ----- 


58  SHOKT    HAND    EXECUTION. 

animated  principles.  They  are  instinct  with 
life.  They  are  themselves  the  intellectual  life 
of  man.  Nothing  can  arrest  them  which  does 
not  plunge  the  entire  order  of  society  into  bar- 
barism. There  is  no  end  to  truth,  no  bound 
to  its  discovery  and  application.  And  a  man 
might  as  well  think  to  build  a  tower  from  the 
top  of  which  he  could  grasp  Sirius  in  his  hand, 
as  to  prescribe  a  limit  to  discovery  and  inven- 
tion. Never  do  we  more  evince  our  arrogant 
ignorance  than  when  we  boast  our  knowledge. 
True  science  is  modest,  for  her  keen,  sagacious 
eye  discerns  that  there  are  deep  undeveloped 
mysteries  where  the  vain  sciolist  sees  all  plain. 
We  call  this  an  age  of  improvement,  as  it  is. 
But  the  Italians,  in  the  time  of  Leo  X.,  and 
with  great  reason,  said  the  same  of  their  age. 
The  Romans,  in  the  time  of  Cicero,  the  same  of 
theirs  ;  and  the  Assyrians  and  Egyptians,  in  the 
flourishing  periods  of  their  ancient  monarchies, 
the  same  of  theirs.  In  passing  from  one  of 
these  periods  to  another  prodigious  strides  are 
often  made  ;  and  the  vanity  of  the  present  age 
is  apt  to  flatter  itself  that  it  has  climbed  to  the 
very  summit  of  invention  and  skill.  A  wiser 
posterity  at  length  finds  out  that  the  discovery 
of  one  truth,  the  investigation  of  one  law  of  na- 


WEITIKQ  BOTH-HANDED. 


59 


"3 J 


J H 


,.<,_„. 


^•";~7"\ :" 


/..?..  ... 


60  SHORT   HAND    EXECUTION. 

ture,  tlie  contrivance  of  one  machine,  the  per- 
fection of  one  art,  instead  of  narrowing,  has  wi- 
dened the  field  of  knowledge  still  to  be  acquired 
and  given  to  those  who  come  after  an  ampler 
space,  more  numerous  data,  better  instruments, 
a  higher  point  of  observation,  and  the  encour- 
agement of  living  and  acting  in  the  presence  of 
a  more  intelligent  age. 

It  is  not  a  century  since  the  number  of  fixed 
stars  was  estimated  at  about  three  thousand. 
Newton  had  counted  no  more.  When  Dr.  Her- 
schel  had  completed  his  great  telescope,  and 
turned  it  to  the  heavens,  he  calculated  that 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  stars  passed 
through  its  field  in  one  quarter  of  an  hour. 

It  may  not  irreverently  be  conjectured  to  be 
the  harmonious  plan  of  the  universe,  that  its  two 
grand  elements  of  mind  and  matter  should  be 
accurately  adjusted  to  each  other ;  that  there 
should  be  full  occupation  in  the  physical  world, 
in  its  laws  and  properties,  and  in  the  social  re- 
lations connected  with  it,  for  the  active  and  con- 
templative powers  of  every  created  intellect. 
The  imperfection  of  human  institutions  has,  as 
far  as  man  is  concerned,  disturbed  the  pure  har- 
mony of  this  great  system.  On  the  one  hand, 
much  truth,  discoverable  even  at  the  present 


WP.1TING  BOTH-HANDED. 


61 


r 


A 


V.        I      °\ 


_  \ 

....%.. 

**         I 


SHOUT    HAND    EXECUTION. 


stage  of  limn  an  improvement,  as  we  have  every 
reason  to  think,  remains  undiscovered.  On  the 
other  hand,  thousands  and  millions  of  rational 
minds,  for  want  of  education,  opportunity,  and 
encouragement,  have  remained  dormant  and  in- 
active, though  surrounded  on  every  side  by 
those  qualities  of  things,  whose  action  and  com- 
bination, no  doubt,  still  conceal  the  sublimest 
and  most  beneficial  mysteries. 

But  a  portion  of  the  intellect,  which  has 
been  placed  on  this  goodly  theater,  is  wisely, 
intently,  and  successfully  active;  ripening  even 
on  earth  into  no  mean  similitude  of  higher  na- 
tures. From  time  to  time  a  chosen  hand,  some- 
times directed  by  chance,  but  more  commonly 
guided  by  reflection,  experiment,  and  research, 
touches,  as  it  were,  a  spring,  till  then  unper- 
ceived,  and  through  what  seemed  a  blank  and 
impenetrable  wall,  the  barrier  to  all  further 
progress,  a  door  is  thrown  open  into  some  be- 
fore unexplored  hall  in  the  sacred  temple  of 
truth. 


WRITING  BOTH-HANDED. 


—  f-S> 
J 


••(•i 


• ^ v* 


64  SHORT  HAND   EXECUTION. 


HINTS  TO   LEARNERS. 

THE  first  thing  the  learner  will  require  is  a 
knowledge  of  the  principles  of  some  system  of 
short-hand.  The  aid  of  a  teacher,  or  associa- 
tion with  a  practical  stenographer,  will  be  of 
great  advantage,  but  it  can  be  mastered  without 
such  assistance.  The  student  should,  at  least, 
insist  on  obtaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
theory,  and  acquiring  the  ability  to  write  cor- 
rectly and  legibly,  at  a  fair  rate,  say  one  hun- 
dred words  per  minute,  the  faster  the  better. 
This  will  serve  for  taking  memoranda  and 
doing  the  work  of  an  amanuensis. 

Writing  in  concert,  as  taught  in  the  pages  of 
this  work,  may  now  be  undertaken,  or  even  with 
a  less  rate  of  speed  than  that  mentioned  above. 
It  is  well  to  select  for  an  associate  writer  one 
with  whose  writing  the  student  is  familiar.  In 
fact,  it  is  well  to  have  a  "  companion  in  study  " 
from  the  outset,  asf  the  mutual  advantages 
arising  in  such  eases  are  very  great,  and  success 
is  more  certain.  When  writing  in  concert,  es- 
pecially, such  companionship  will  render  prac- 
tice highly  agreeable  and  fascinating  to  both. 
Concert  writing  will  fit  the  writers  for  occasions 
when  great  speed  is  required. 

Writing  left-handed  may  be  undertaken  at 
any  time,  without  reference  to  writing  with  the 
right  hand.  Regular  practice  in  both  long-hand 


HINTS    TO    LEARNERS.  65 

and  short-hand  will  be  required,  similar,  though 
less  in  amount,  to  that  required  in  first  learning 
to  write  with  the  right  hand.  It  should  be  con- 
tinued till  the  muscles  of  the  hand  become 
strengthened  and  a  facility  of  execution  is  at- 
tained. When  writing,  the  left  side  should  be 
placed  adjacent  to  the  table,  and  the  writing 
should  proceed  from  right  to  left.  A  little  prac- 
tice in  reading  the  manuscript  will  render  that 
written  with  the  left  hand  as  legible  as  that 
written  with  the  right. 

After  the  student  has  acquired  the  ability  to 
write  with  facility  with  either  hand,  both-handed 
writing  may  be  attempted.  This  will  furnish  an 
ample  field  for  all  his  tact  and  cleverness.  Simple 
signs  should  be  selected  for  first  practice,  for 
example,  the  dot.  Let  it  be  written  with  the 
right  hand,  and,  a  little  in  advance,  on  the  left 
line,  with  the  left  hand.  This  practice  may  be 
continued  till  it  can  be  written  simultaneously 
with  ease  and  facility. 

Chay  may  be  taken  for  a  second  exercise, 
and  similarly  written,  executing  it  slowly  and 
increasing  as  speed  is  attained. 

When  similar  signs  can  be  readily  executed, 
more  dissimilar  ones  for  a  succeeding  exercise 
may  be  selected,  for  example,  right,  Tee,  and 
left,  Kay. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  directions  that  can 
be  followed  in  all  cases ;  but  the  lessons  can  be 
made  gradually  progressive,  till  words  of  dif- 
ficult outline  can  be  executed  simultaneously. 
A  reader  may  next  be  employed  to  read  exer- 


66  SHOUT  HAND    EXECUTION. 


cises  for  the  student  to  practice  upon.  Such 
exercises  should  at  first  embody  words  of  short 
and  simple  outline.  The  first  of  the  ordinary 
series  of  school  readers  will  be  found  desirable, 
after  practicing  which,  readers  of  a  higher  grade 
may  be  employed. 

All  manuscript  notes  should  be  deciphered. 
That  should  be  an  invariable  rule.  As  before 
remarked,  it  is  impossible  to  give  set  rules  for 
the  guidance  of  the  student  at  all  stages  of  his 
progress.  Different  temperamental  conditions 
call  for  varied  methods  of  practice. 

It  is  believed,  however,  not  to  be  advisable  to 
attempt  to  conceive  the  outline  of  two  words 
simultaneously,  but  that  the  form  of  each  word 
should  be  determined  while  the  pen  is  being 
lifted  or  passed  to  a  succeeding  word.  For 
example,  the  outline  of  each  right  word  may  bo 
conceived  while  the  right  pen  is  being  lifted  and 
the  left  pen  completing  a  preceding  word ;  and 
the  outline  of  each  left  word  may  be  conceived 
while  the  left  pen  is  being  lifted  and  the  right 
pen  is  completing  a  preceding  word.  This 
relieves  the  mind  from  a  strain  that  would  be 
experienced  by  attempting  to  conceive  the  forms 
of  two  words  simultaneously.  This  suggestion 
has  more  reference  to  unfamiliar  outlines.  When 
the  forms  have  been  many  times  written  they 
may  be  taken  simultaneously  as  one  word.  It 
then  becomes  mechanical,  not  requiring  the 
exercise  of  the  mind. 

In  verbatim  reporting  it  shoiild  be  borne  in 
mind  that  an  acute  hearing,  as  well  as  familiar- 


WRITING    CASE. 


ity  with  the  subject-matter  reported,  will  be 
found  to  be  essential,  as  speed  of  writing  will 
not  enable  the  short-hand  writer  to  take  what 
he  cannot  hear,  or  transcribe  correctly  technical- 
ities that  he  does  not  understand. 


WRITING   CASE. 

As  there  are  occasions  when  the  short-hand 
writer  cannot  command  the  conveniences  of 
seat,  light,  and  desk,  the  author  herewith  gives 
a  description  of  a  mechanical  device,  which  he 
has  used  successfully  in  cases  where,  without  it, 
the  report  could  not  have  been  made.  It  is  ser- 
viceable in  reporting  with  a  single  pen,  and  well 
adapted  to  writing  in  concert. 

Its  general  mechanical  construction  will  be 
understood  by  reference  to  Fig.  1. 


FIG.  I. 


It  is  in  the  form  of  a  parallelepiped,  being 
about  six  inches  in  length,  by  five  in  width,  and 
two  and  a  half  in  thickness.  The  writing  is 


68  SHORT    HAM)     K\  K<  TTION. 

executed  on  a  scroll  of  paper,  sufficient  for  from 
three  to  six  hours'  writing.  This  scroll  is  coiled 
upon  two  cylinders,  contained  within  a  case, 
their  axles  being  provided  each  with  a  toothed 
wheel,  which  is  actuated  by  the  left  hand  of  the 
writer.  The  distance  between  the  teeth  corre- 
sponds with  the  distance  between  the  lines  of 
writing,  so  that  it  is  only  necessary  to  turn  the 
wheel  the  distance  of  one  tooth,  to  cause  the 
paper  to  advance  sufficiently  to  bring  a  new  line 
of  writing  in  position.  The  axles  of  the  cylinders 
are  provided  with  a  friction  brake  and  set  screw, 
by  which  they  can  be  adjusted  so  as  to  give  the 
paper  the  proper  tension.  The  writing  is  ex- 
ecuted on  the  longitudinal  central  line  of  the 
cylinder,  a  slot  being  cut  in  the  case  to  expose 
the  same,  and  the  paper,  being  under  tension, 
is  firm  and  smooth.  The  slight  convexity  of 
the  cylinder  affords  no  inconvenience  to  the 
writer,  but  is  advantageous,  as  it  enables  him  to 
follow  the  line  of  writing  Avith  tolerable  accuracy, 
even  in  the  dark,  or  when  his  eyes  may  be 
turned  in  some  other  direction. 

When  the  end  of  the  scroll  is  reached,  the 
case  is  reversed.  A  slot  on  the  opposite  side 
exposes  the  second  cylinder,  and  as  the  paper 
is  crossed  in  passing  from  one  cylinder  to  the 
other,  the  unwritten  side  will  be  exposed  on  the 
second  cylinder.  By  simply  operating  the  wheel 
attached  to  the  axle  of  this  cylinder,  as  already 
described,  the  scroll  is  moved  in  the  opposite 
direction,  so  that  the  paper  is  made  available  on 
both  sides  for  writing. 


WHITING     CASK.  69 

The  scroll  can  readily  be  removed  from  the 
holder  and  a  new  one  inserted.  It  can  also  be 
cut  in  numbered  sections  for  transcription  if 
desired. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  advantages 
afforded  by  this  case  : 

1st.  It  enables  the  reporter  to  write  from 
three  to  six  hours  continuously,  without  shifting 
paper  or  turning  leaves,  and  on  paper  that  is 
retained  in  a  firm  position  and  free  from 
wrinkles. 

2d.  To  write  standing,  with  nearly  the  same 
ease  as  when  seated  at  a  desk. 

3d.  To  write  with  facility  in  almost  any  posi- 
tion— standing  or  sitting. 

4th.  To  write  out  of  doors  in  a  stiff  breeze  or 
when  storming. 

oth.  To  write  without  looking  at  the  paper, 
and  when  observing  other  objects,  as  a  proces- 
sion or  boat  race. 

6fch.  To  wr^te  in  the  dark,  as  is  sometimes 
necessary  in  reporting  a  description  of  the 
views  of  a  stereopticon,  or  a  response  to  a  sere- 
nade. 

The  manner  of  using  this  case  is  very  simple. 
It  is  grasped  at  the  forward  end  with  the  thumb 
and  fourth  finger  of  the  left  hand,  and  retained 
by  a  gentle  pressure  of  the  palm  of  the  hand, 
leaving  the  first  and  second  fingers  free  to 
operate  the  toothed  wheel  whenever  it  is  de- 
sired to  move  the  paper.  When  sitting  it  can 
very  conveniently  be  rested  upon  the  lap  or 
upon  a  table. 


70  SHOUT    MAM)    KXKI   ITHtN. 


WHITING   IN   THE   DARK. 

WHEN  writing  in  the  dark,  or  when  the  atten- 
tion is  directed  elsewhere,  as  already  described, 
the  writing  is  executed  by  what  is  generally 
known  as  the  sense  of  feeling.  That  this  faculty 
is  capable  of  cultivation  is  illustrated  by  the 
musician  in  the  manipulation  of  instruments,  as 
well  as  in  the  feats  performed  by  the  blind.  In 
many  instances  it  is  more  unerring  than  the 
sense  of  sight.  It  should  be  cultivated  by  the 
short-hand  writer,  as  in  rapid  writing  the  ex- 
ecution of  various  outlines  is  more  by  the  sense 
of  feeling  than  sight.  It  is  also  a  great  aid  to 
uniformity  and  accuracy  in  rapid  writing.  The 
writing  case  renders  writing  by  feeling  practi- 
cable ;  not  that  it  is  contemplated  to  supersede 
writing  by  sight,  but  it  extends, the  scope  of 
short -hand,  by  enabling  the  writer  to  work  in 
the  dark,  should  it  become  necessary. 

The  greatest  difficulties  are  encountered  in 
voweling  short-hand  outlines,  when  this  is  done 
by  inserting  separate  characters  after  the  con- 
sonants have  been  written,  and  those  systems 
which  admit  of  the  insertion  of  vowels  without 
lifting  the  pen,  are,  in  that  respect,  superior. 
At  the  same  time  a  persevering  practice  will  do 
much  toward  obviating  the  above  difficulties. 

The  following  will  serve  as  exercises  for  the 
beginner : 


WRITING    CASE.  71 


Draw  horizontal  lines  one-sixteenth,  one- 
eighth,  and  one-fourth  of  an  inch  long. 

Draw  perpendicular  and  inclined  lines  corre- 
sponding to  lengths  given  above,  also  circles  with 
diameters  corresponding  to  same. 

Draw  a  circle  and  place  a  dot  in  the  center, 
also  perpendicular  and  horizontal  lines  passing 
through  the  center  of  the  same. 

Draw  a  dot  line  across  the  page  correspond- 
ing with  the  ruling. 

After  the  execution  of  each  character  they 
can  be  viewed,  and  any  inaccuracies  noted.  In 
most  cases  the  ability  to  execute  them  without 
the  aid  of  sight  will  be  rapidly  acquired. 

Short-hand  exercises  may  next  be  undertaken. 
They  should  be  written  slowly  and  carefully  at 
first.  This  will  tend  to  promote  accuracy  of 
writing  when  writing  by  sight. 


72  SHOUT    II  \M>    KXKCITTION. 


REPORTING   TESTIMONY. 

AN  important  application  of  short-hand  writ- 
ing is  in  taking  testimony.  It  is  a  kind  of  re- 
porting that  often  involves  many  difficulties. 
There  is  a  constant  change  from  one  person  to 
another  as  an  examination  proceeds,  and  it 
may  be  upon  technical  and  obscure  subjects. 
Frequently,  too,  the  witness  and  counsel,  or 
court,  may  be  speaking  simultaneously.  It  is 
often  very  rapid,  owing  to  the  excitement  of 
persons  testifying,  or  to  the  efforts  of  counsel  to 
press  a  witness  on  cross-examination.  Answers 
are  often  disconnected  and  not  pertinent  to  the 
question,  and  questions  irrelevant  to  the  subject 
under  examination.  The  most  trying  ordeal, 
too,  may  be  encountered  at  the  close  of  a  pro- 
tracted trial  in  reporting  a  rapidly  delivered 
argument  or  charge,  when  the  stenographer  may 
be  exhausted  by  excessive  overwork. 

Notwithstanding  these  difficulties  a  literal 
report  is  always  expected,  and  very  desirable. 
It  is  impossible  to  make  a  condensed  report 
that  will  include  all  the  essential  features  that 
may  be  developed,  from  time  to  time,  during 
the  trial. 

Writing  in  concert  may  be  effectively  prac- 
ticed, especially  in  reporting  the  charges  of 
courts  and  the  arguments  of  counsel.  It  is  a 
service  for  which  it  is  especially  adapted,  as  the 


REPORTING    TESTIMONY.  !'•> 


necessary  speed  without  fatigue  is  easily  at- 
tained. 

To  take  testimon}*-  in  concert  more  practice 
and  care  will  be  required,  for  the  reason  that  it 
is  necessary  to  change  so  frequently  from  one 
person  to  another.  In  such  cases  the  cues 
should  be  repeated  freely,  and  they  naay  be 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  page  by  a  per- 
pendicular line  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch  from 
the  left  margin.  Answers  may  be  distinguished 
from  questions  by  a  blank  space  on  the  left 
margin,  a  practice  common  with  many.  It 
should  be  so  arranged  that  the  first  writer  takes 
the  question  and  the  second  writer  the  answer, 
but  there  will  necessarily  be  some  departures 
from  that  rule.  In  case  the  counsel  and  wit- 
ness speak  simultaneously,  they  should  be  fol- 
lowed by  their  respective  writers,  and  if  such 
takes  form  several  lines,  it  may  be  indicated  by 
connecting  the  same  by  a  line  drawn  through 
the  cue  space. 

When  taking  testimony  both-handed  it  will 
generally  be  found  most  convenient,  in  order  to 
distinguish  the  question  from  the  answer,  to 
write  the  first  word  of  questions  with  the  left 
hand,  and  the  first  word  of  answers  with  the 
right  hand. 

A  number  of  inquiries  and  answers  are  sub- 
joined, which  will  illustrate  the  application  of 
some  of  the  foregoing  suggestions. 


74 


SHORT  HAND  EXECUTION. 


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REPORTING  TESTIMONY 


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SHOUT  HAND    KXK<  I  TIOX. 


Q.  How  long,  doctor,  have  you  been  in  this 
business  ? 

A.  Six  or  seven  years. 

Q.  How  many  cases  have  you  been  iu  ? 

A.  In  the  neighborhood  of  a  dozen  in  regard 
to  this  matter. 

Q.  Where  were  they  ? 

A.  One  in  Woodstock,  Vermont. 

Q.  Was  that  a  murder  trial  ? 

A.  It  was. 

Q.  Give  a  list  of  them,  doctor  ? 

A.  There  was  another  case  at  Manchester. 
The  indictment  was  not  for  murder  in  the  first 
degree  ;  but  it  was  a  blood-stain  case.  There 
was- another  case  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  one  at 
Northampton,  Mass.,  one  at  Plymouth,  Mass. 
The  others  have  slipped  my  mind. 

Q.  Any  other  case  ? 

A.  None,  except  the  Hayden  case  in  New 
Haven. 

Q.  These  corpuscles  you  have  been  speaking 
of  are  quite  small  ? 

A.  They  are. 

Q.  How  many  in  a  drop  of  blood  one-eighth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter  ? 

A.  I  should  have  to  figure  to  give  you  the 
number  in  a  drop  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  di- 
ameter. 

Figure  and  tell  us. 


Counsel  for  State : 
I  object.  He  was  not 
called  as  an  expert 
in  mathematics. 


A.  To  give  that  would 
involve  a  protracted 
mathematical  calcula- 
tion. 


REPORTING    TESTIMONY. 


|  The  above  answer  and  objection  were  spoken 
simultaneously.] 

Q.  Is  it  not  at  times  difficult  to  tell  whether 
or  not  certain  substances  are  blood  corpuscles? 

A.  Only  in  a  case  where  they  are  badly  used 
up  ;  and  then  I  would  not  give  an  opinion. 

Q.  Are  there  not  authorities  which  say  that 
the  analysis  is  so  infinitesimal  that  it  is  dan- 
gerous to  rely  on  it  in  a  murder  case  ? 

A.  Authorities  say  that  it  is  difficult  to  dis- 
criminate between  dog's  blood  and  human  blood. 
Some  think  they  cannot  tell  the  difference  be- 
tween the  two,  but  so  far  as  distinguishing  cor- 
puscles from  other  objects  there  is  no  difficulty. 


78  slloHT    HAND    EXECUTION. 


KEY  TO  OPPOSITE  PAGE. 

Q.  Now  at  this  time  didn't  you  know  that  my  client 
placed  a  high  value  on  this  property? 

.1.  I  have  known  it  for  some  time,  and  think  I  knew  it 
then. 

Q.  The  good -will  was  valuable  ? 

A.  Yes,  sir. 

Q.  To  settle  the  estate  would  destroy  the  good-will  ? 

A.  I  think  he  made  use  of  the  same  expression. 

Q.  Did  he  not  tell  you  that  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  had  been  spent  to  build  up  the  name  of  the  com- 
pany, and  it  would  be  lost  if  the  estate  was  settled  ? 

A.  I  think  he  may  have  made  use  of  that  expression  on 
some  occasion. 

Q.  Was  he  not  very  urgent  that  this  property  should  be 
returned  to  hi  in  ? 

A.  He  was. 

Q.  He  informed  you,  did  he  not,  that  he  had  a  note  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  while  urging  the  return  of 
thi&4>roperty  ? 

A.  My  impression  is  they  were  not  at  the  same  inter- 
view. 

Q.  Do  I  understand  that  he,  in  talking  with  you,  know- 
ing you  were  the  attorney  for  the  estate,  said  that  he  had 
a  note  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  which  he  hadn't 
considered  of  any  consequence  :  but  if  this  property  was 
not  returned,  he  should  bring  suit  and  collect  the  note  ? 

A.  He  made  use  of  that  expression,  "that  he  hadn't  con- 
sidered it  of  any  consequence. ' ' 

Q.  Do  you  mean  to  convey  that  impression  ? 

A.  That  was  his  language. 


KEPOKTING  TESTIMONY  79 


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80  INDEX. 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Preface 3 

Introduction 5 

Writing  in  Concert 11 

Exercise  by  Four  Writers 14 

Key  to  same 12 

Method  of  Execution 16 

Two  Associate  Writers 19 

Exercise  by  Two  Writers '24 

Key  to  same 30 

Turning  Pages 36 

Writing  Left-Handed 37 

Writing  Either-Handed 43 

Exercise  with  the  Left  Hand 45 

Key  to  same   44 

Writing  Both-Handed 46 

Right  and  Left  Signs  Compared 48 

Simultaneous  Writing 49 

Position  in  Writing 51 

Specimen  Written  Both-Handed. .    55 

Hints  to  Learners 64 

Writing  Case 67 

Writing  in  the  Dark 70 

Reporting  Testimony 7'2 

Testimony  Written  in  Concert .  .      74 

Key  to  same 76 

Testimony  Written  Both-Handed 79 

Key  to  same 78 


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